Clove Cigarettes Market by Type, End Use, Countries and Companies Analysis 2025-2033

The Global Clove Cigarettes Market is anticipated to grow from US$ 118.45 billion in 2024 to US$ 187.41 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.23% from 2025 to 2033. Growing demand for flavored tobacco products, increased popularity among young consumers, and growing distribution networks are fueling market growth in Asia-Pacific, North America, and regions of Europe.

Global Clove Cigarettes Market Outlook

Clove cigarettes, also referred to as kreteks, are flavored cigarettes primarily consisting of a mixture of tobacco, cloves, and other ingredients. Clove cigarettes are indigenous to Indonesia and are distinct for their unique scent, sweet-spiciness, and crackle when burned as a result of the presence of cloves. Clove cigarettes are typically a mixture of 60-70% tobacco and 30-40% crushed cloves or clove oil.

Clove cigarettes are consumed in much the same way as traditional tobacco products, providing a distinctive smoking experience that some consumers find to be smoother or more flavorful than regular cigarettes. Although sometimes described as "exotic" or "alternative," they retain the same set of health dangers as tobacco use, such as dependence and lung injury.

Internationally, clove cigarettes are the most prevalent in Southeast Asia, notably Indonesia, where they reign supreme in the tobacco industry. In the West, particularly in nations such as the U.S. and certain regions in Europe, they are more niche in popularity because flavored tobacco is highly regulated. In spite of the regulatory hurdles, demand for clove cigarettes remains on the rise with younger smokers and consumers looking for alternative smoking commodities, which maintains their consistent global market presence.

Growth Drivers in the Clove Cigarettes Market

Increasing Demand for Flavored Tobacco Products

An emerging trend among consumers, especially among young adults, shows an increasing interest in flavored tobacco products. Clove cigarettes, with their captivating mix of perfumey spices and unmistakably sweet flavor, provide a distinctive sensory experience that differentiates them from regular cigarettes. This wonderful blend of taste becomes an appealing option, weaving a spell over consumers that want more than the rest. As a consequence, clove cigarettes are experiencing a strong demand, primarily in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe, where an interest in a unique smoking experience is fueling this trend. February 2024, Kretek International launched the nicotine-free Djarum Bliss clove smokes in 2 flavors to capture the U.S. and Canada market by the end of 2024.

Cultural and Traditional Influence in Indonesia

Indonesia, celebrated as the place of origin of kretek cigarettes, boasts the title of being the biggest consumer and manufacturer of these unique clove-filled smokes. The cultural predisposition of kreteks runs deep, embedded in the daily routine and social interaction of people, creating strong domestic demand that does not waver. Such cultural relevance not only adds rich living to the people in the country but also creates precious export opportunity to Indonesian communities dispersed all over the world where the taste of home still lingers. November 2023, Hertz Flavors marked its first anniversary in Indonesia with the launch of a USD 5 million Mojokerto factory that makes ISO-certified flavors like apple and mango with a sustainability thrust towards serving the country's tobacco market.

Greater Access in Emerging Economies

With distribution chains expanding and package forms ever more innovative, clove cigarettes are fast becoming more accessible products in developing economies. The accelerating rate of urbanization, along with an increase in disposable income, is driving a growing demand for these products. Furthermore, the young curiosity about Western-style and fusion smoking experiences is generating a dynamic new market that bypasses traditional geography, a dramatic change in consumer trend. In February 2024, Kretek International launched the nicotine-free Djarum Bliss clove smokes in two flavors and intends to dominate the U.S. and Canada market by the close of 2024.

Challenges within the Clove Cigarettes Market

Regulatory Bans and Flavor Restrictions

Over the past few years, several nations have imposed strict laws or outright bans on flavored cigarettes, including clove cigarettes, due to increasing fears about their popularity among youth and the general concerns for public health. For instance, in the United States, the government has introduced a prohibition on all flavored cigarettes, with a specific exception of menthol, a decision that has greatly impacted the sales of clove cigarettes. In addition to curtailing market expansion, these legal limitations also restrict the marketing opportunity options open to brands, posing a serious challenge to manufacturers in the flavored tobacco industry.

Health Concerns and Public Awareness Campaigns

Growing public awareness of the health hazards of smoking, combined with militant anti-smoking campaigns and increased taxation, poses major threats to the clove cigarette industry. These distinctive cigarettes, which are commonly related to unusual flavors and cultural identities, are gaining increasingly negative perceptions in terms of their impact on health as a result of their high tar and nicotine content. This unfavorable image not only discourages health-conscious consumers but also compels most people to seek alternatives that are seen to be safer, like nicotine-free cigarettes or vape-based products. Consequently, the market for clove cigarettes experiences a turning point as consumer preferences shift towards less harmful alternatives.

Machine Produced Kreteks Clove Cigarettes Market

Machine-made kreteks are the leading players in the clove cigarette market because of their mass production capacity, uniform quality, and affordability. They find extensive retailing in convenience stores and tobacco shops, particularly in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian regions. International brands are also dependent on mechanized production to address high consumption volumes and price sensitivity.

Hand Rolled Kreteks Clove Cigarettes Market

Hand-rolled kreteks are attractive to consumers seeking a traditional or artisanal smoking experience. Usually, made in low volumes, these cigarettes have cultural connotations and are particularly sought after in rural Indonesia. Though not widely spread across the globe, their niche appeal continues to attract smokers in search of authentic, slow-burning experiences.

Male Clove Cigarettes Market

The male population makes up the bulk of clove cigarette users, especially among areas such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Strong taste preferences and high nicotine levels make kreteks a popular choice for males who smoke. Marketing techniques tend to be directed towards males with strong packaging and symbolism of manliness.

Female Clove Cigarettes Market

Though a niche market, the female consumer segment for clove cigarettes is expanding with flavored, lighter cigarettes and fashionable packaging. Slim kreteks and low-odor varieties are being targeted at this market by manufacturers, appealing to lifestyle-oriented smokers in metropolitan areas. Indonesia and certain European regions indicate increasing female smoker participation.

United States Clove Cigarettes Market

In spite of the FDA prohibition on flavored cigarettes, clove cigars and their ilk remain popular in a niche group of the American market. Indonesian brands, always so clever, have simply cleverly reclassified their popular kreteks as cigars, evading the prohibition while maintaining their special allure. These fragrant tobacco items, heavy with a mixture of cloves and tobacco, have won themselves a dedicated constituency among youth and alternative smokers. Though the overall market is modest in size, the continued popularity of these aromatic cigars speaks to their long-term appeal and cultural relevance.

Germany Clove Cigarettes Market

Germany has become a small but firm market for clove cigarettes in Europe. Demand for unique flavors among consumers is seen to be increasing, with kreteks being exceptionally popular. But the expansion potential in this niche is somewhat limited by strict EU tobacco laws that place restrictions on product distribution and advertisement. The most vigorous demand for clove cigarettes generally arises from overseas consumers and serious tobacco aficionados, who regularly pursue such distinctive smoking experiences for their highly aromatic and complex profiles.

India Clove Cigarettes Market

In India, clove cigarettes are gaining prominence, especially among young people in urban centers and connoisseur tobacco smokers. Although they do not yet approach the common usage of bidis or conventional cigarettes, the irresistible choice of flavors is enticing those who want a unique experience. The growing influx of Indonesian imports further raises their popularity, overpowering their market presence and holding an audience fascinated by novelty.

Brazil Clove Cigarettes Market

Brazil has a lively and multifaceted smoking culture that has fostered a modest but growing niche market for clove cigarettes. In spite of the reinforcement of regulatory systems that seek to curb the use of tobacco, these flavored cigarettes enjoy a loyal following among young adults and smokers who seek a distinctive smoking experience. The popularity of clove cigarettes stems from their spicy and aromatic character, which differentiates them from mainstream counterparts. Indonesian imports are at the forefront of this specialty market, fulfilling the desire of city-based smokers in cosmopolitan cities, where an appetite for unique variations exists. This mixture of social acceptability and looking for alternatives provides a vivacious platform for clove cigarettes in Brazil.

Saudi Arabia Clove Cigarettes Market

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant influx of interest around flavored tobacco products, especially clove cigarettes, which have intrigued the young minds. The trend is principally driven by the confined production capacity in the country, thus causing a heavy import of the product from Indonesia, one of the leading players in the market. With the exotic taste and aromatic nature of clove cigarettes attracting a younger population, Saudi Arabia's tobacco use pattern is shifting. But the growth in the market for the potent-smelling cigarettes in the future could be cooled by continued anti-smoking campaigns and public health policies that seek to stem tobacco use and public ill health in the country.

Market Segmentation

Type

• Hand Rolled Kreteks
• Machine Made Kreteks (Full Flavored)
• Machine Made Kreteks (Low Tar Nicotine)

End Use

• Male
• Female

Countries

North America

• United States
• Canada

Europe

• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Turkey

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Indonesia
• Australia
• New Zealand

Latin America

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina

Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• South Africa

All companies have been covered with 5 Viewpoints

• Overviews
• Key Person
• Recent Developments
• SWOT Analysis
• Revenue Analysis

Key Players Analysis

• Philip Morris Products S.A.
• PT. Gudang Garam Tbk
• PT Djarum.
• Nojorono Tobacco Indonesia
• JT International SA.
• Bentoel Group
• Wismilak Group.
• Kretek International, Inc.